Question

A nurse measures an adult patient with a tympanic temperature. Which of the following should the nurse take?

a.	Use cotton-tipped applicator to remove cerumen.
b.	Pull the pinna downward and backward.
c.	Aim the probe posteriorly in the direction of the eardrum.
d.	Insert the probe with a circular motion.

i tried B and it said it was incorrect then i tried C and that was also wrong. HELP!!!

Answer 1

OPTION A:- use the cotton tipped applicator to remove the cerumen

EXPLANATIONS

This method of monitoring temperature is not usually performed in adults and its mostly done in children below 2 yrs of age of mostly

As a nurse her first duty is to clean the sight as the presence of earwax will alter the temperature,and as this is an adult patient he may have more of earwax to be cleaned.And its not necessary to move the pinna downward and backward and its just to be clear about the way of ear cannal we just move the pinna for easy insertion and is mostly effective in children as there ear is too small.
Then the probe is slowly inserted until it covers ear cannal completely

PROCEDURE

-Use a clean probe tip each time, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully

-Gently tug on the ear, pulling it back to make the way visible from the ear canal, to the ear drum

-Gently insert the thermometer until the ear canal is fully sealed off

-Squeeze and hold down the button for 1 second

-Remove the thermometer and read the temperature